Hamilton Rugby Club fall to last-gasp defeat as comeback bid is thwarted

Gary Adams breaks for the line to score a try for Hamilton (Image: Nick Schaschke)

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Hamilton’s brave comeback attempt was left in tatters as they fell to a last-gasp 31-29 defeat against Peebles in a pulsating Tennent’s National League 2 match at Laigh Bent.

The Bulls led for the first time with four minutes remaining, but a late penalty denied them a surprise win.

Bulls began the match facing a low sun and were under pressure from kick-off, with Peebles’ scrum totally dominant in the early stages.

However, they gathered themselves and, after two well-placed up-and-unders from Owen McLeish, Hamilton made good ground into the opposition 22.

A misplaced pass gave Peebles the opportunity to break downfield, forcing Hamilton into desperate defence, and this became a pattern for the next 15 minutes.

In 17 minutes Hamilton’s Gregor Brodie was yellow-carded for killing the ball in a ruck, and Peebles responded by playing simple phase rugby which released scrum-half David Wills to dart round the side of the ruck to score, with Greg Raeburn converting for a 7-0 lead.

Hamilton hit back immediately when they turned over ball deep in the Peebles 22 and, after three phases, Stephen Turnbull released Gary Adams, who forced his way over in the corner.

McLeish’s conversion was blown wide, but Hamilton were back in the game.

Peebles went back on the attack when Ruaraidh Britton out-jumped the Hamilton forwards to retrieve kick-off and quick hands moved possession deep into the 22.

When ball was recycled to Raeburn, his clever delayed pass gave Gary Anderson a clear run-in for their second try, which Raeburn converted.

Hamilton’s number was again reduced when Ross Jamieson was sin-binned for handling in the ruck, but the hosts were unlucky not to score when a clever kick ahead by McLeish bounced back over the head of the charging Ben Plant to deny him.

The home defence was tested several times, but it was they who were next on the scoreboard when McLeish slotted a penalty for 14-8.

Peebles had the last say of the half, however, with Raeburn latching onto a pass and bursting clear of the defence to touch down, converting his own try for a 21-8 lead.

Hamilton were caught napping at the start of the second half and Anderson was put through again to score under the posts, Raeburn again converting.

That seemed to bring Hamilton back to life, although it took until the 60th minute before they got a score, with Turnbull dotting down after patient forward phases left a gap at the ruck. Andrew Wilson converted.

Peebles playmaker Raeburn was yellow carded for a deliberate knock-on, and that gave Hamilton extra impetus, but poor handling meant good scoring opportunities were lost.

However, Raeburn’s return to the fray was short-lived as another deliberate knock-on saw him red carded.

This time Hamilton did take advantage, with Turnbull scoring his second try, again converted by Wilson from wide out for 28-22.

Peebles were reduced again with another yellow card with eight minutes left, and Hamilton pushed forward, believing they could take something from the game.

They took the lead for the first time with four minutes left when Scott Whitelaw forced his way over, with Wilson’s conversion taking the score to 29-28.

However, Wills then made a searing break from his own half, and with Hamilton making desperate tackles, one of them was deemed to be high, with Murray Brown kicking the winning points.

Hamilton head coach Kenny Brown said: “The boys showed good spirit to come from behind, but we are frustrated with our performance.

“It’s early in the season, we know we can be better and where we need to improve, so we look forward to the challenge of Preston Lodge next week.”